Garden Birds

Sparrow & Finch Blog 'Tips on Looking After Your Garden Birds'

Now is the time to start getting your garden birds ready for the colder months of the year.

Start by cleaning out the nest boxes, make sure to put them back up though, the tiny birds such as Wrens and Blue Tits will use them to roost in during the autumn and winter. Up to a dozen Wrens have been reported huddled together in a single nest box, so please do not underestimate the importance of your nest boxes. They are also used by the birds to shelter from continual rain, something that we are very used to at the moment.

We are currently going through food for the birds like there is no tomorrow, so make sure feeders and tables are regularly topped up. A particular favourite here at the moment are white sunflower seeds, the finches especially love them. Mixed seed will bring in a variety of birds (avoid the cheap stuff though with dog biscuit in it. It attracts the pigeons!). Peanuts are a fantastic food as they are very high in fat, the Tits and the Woodpeckers really love these. Bread of course is a staple. As the weather gets colder fat balls are great for energy, with the ultimate cold weather ‘superfood’ being mealworms. They are pure protein. Start feeding the birds now, so that when it gets colder and their natural food becomes scarce they know where they can get something to eat. Don’t forget to spread the feeders around the garden, this way everyone gets to eat. Keep them together and the bullies (Not naming names, Robins and Starlings) throw their weight around and keep the more timid birds away.

Once this is done, put the kettle on settle down with a good view of the garden and let the avian soap opera begin. It will take no time at all for you to start picking out the individual characters!

In The Beginning ...

We love our Claridges Bird House, and Ivy Bird Table; they were the first products we designed, so we will always have great affection for them.

The design took a lot of time to perfect, but it was worth it to see how they give so many people all over the world, so much enjoyment.

The philosophy behind the design, was to provide a nest box that had the look of a traditional English dovecote, but was scaled to be exactly right for garden birds to use. The bird table had to compliment the bird house, but also be a stunning design in it's own right.  Both had to look beautiful, but they had to work.

Without doubt, the focal point is the roof, each cedar tile is individually hand-cut and fixed to the frame, Cedar was chosen for the tiles as it needs no maintenance and will in time turn a beautiful silver colour.

Our design philosophy is simple; a product must be beautiful inside and out, so the roof frame is a work of art in itself.  This frame took many hundreds of hours to design, but the finished article, is as beautiful a design as any roof structure on any building.  Not only does it give the Claridges and Ivy their hallmark look, it is also probably stronger, and than the roof of your house.  It will last a lifetime as well.  We urge you to remove the roof (they are easily removable), and take a look inside. I think you will then agree that the reputation Sparrow & Finch have earned for beautiful design and construction methods is richly deserved.

We have been paid many compliments about our products, but one of the most memorable was an elderly gentlemen who declared, after many minutes of inspecting the Claridges bird house roof, that after a 50 year career as a Master Carpenter and traditional roof specialist, 'he could not have made it better himself'.  Statements like this makes us extremely proud, and we hope gives our customers a taste of what our construction philosophy is like.

The roof is finished with a beautiful hand-turned finial and a solid copper cap.

The Body ...

The 'body' of the bird house is almost completely circular, again many hundreds of hours of design to perfect.  Inside are eight separate ‘apartments’.  These apartments are easily removable for cleaning.

The table is also circular, and has six ornate pillars finished with a solid copper handmade band to keep the food on the table.  This ring lifts up to allow simple cleaning. (Something that is very important to do)

The Post & Bracket ...

You do not just nail our bird houses or bird tables to any old post.  We have produced a bracket that is in perfectly in keeping.  This fits over the post that is high enough to keep the predators away, but low enough for you to see all of the goings on (1.6m for the Claridges, 1.3m for The Ivy).

The Finish ...

We hand-finish to ensure a beautifully smooth surface.  Everything we produce gets a finish fit for the indoors.  Just because it is a bird house or bird table does not mean it is any less of a piece of art.  All pieces are glued, nailed and screwed to ensure the product not only lasts, but looks beautiful for a long time.  Sanding between coats of paint means the finish is superb and very tactile.

In Position ...

We, and our customers have had fantastic success with both the bird house and the bird table.  In our Claridges we have had between one and five pairs of House Sparrows in residence, (they are a communal nesting species ideally suited to the type of nest box), various titmice and finches, mostly single pairs as they are territorial.  But one customer has had two pairs of Blue Tits in one Claridges, nesting on opposite sides and never coming in to contact.  How is that for forward thinking!

The Ivy has had at one time most species of English garden birds paying it a visit, and some exotic visitors also.

The Stipulation ...

Having described in detail why we love these two pieces and all of the hard work and time that goes into every one, if you wish to own one, we have one stipulation - 'that you absolutely must place your Claridges or Ivy where you can see and admire it every morning when you look out into your garden'.

What Our Customers Say ...

The Claridges bird house and The Ivy bird table are waving the flag for British craftsmanship in many countries around the world; America, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France and Germany to name just a few.

Mrs G from Kent - ‘Thank you Sparrow & Finch, my Ivy replaced a bird table my husband made for me when he was alive, I did not think I could have another bird table, but it has given me so much pleasure’

Mr Y from Dorset -  ‘My husband loved his Claridges, he says it's the best birthday present he has had’

Dr O from Hong Kong - ‘What a work of art, everyone that visits, comments on my wonderful Claridges bird house’

Nest boxes
Nest boxes come in all shapes and sizes. It is impossible not to find a design that is perfect for your garden or outside space. Just remember, as with all things you get what you pay for. The cheaper the price, the less likely it is to last. This is important because once a nest box is used, the chances are it will be used for years to come. Birds are quite picky where they nest, they have to feel safe and secure, so once they have decided on a home, they will use it again. If the nest box is not built to last, and falls apart after a couple of seasons your garden birds will have to find a new home all over again. That’s not easy, as competition is rife.

Put up a variety of styles, after all you have to look at them, your birds though won’t be so concerned with the aesthetics. An average sized garden should be able to support two or three nesting pairs, but you must put up more nest boxes than this as they will not necessarily pick the only one on offer. A nest box could go in the text book spot, but never be used, that’s just the way it is.

Communal Nest Boxes
There is only one species of garden bird that nests communally in the UK, and this is a very important species, the House Sparrow. These little brown birds live in hierarchal communities, and are known for nesting in the eaves of houses. Unfortunately our homes, their favourite nesting places, have become more insulated, eaves have been boxed in, leaving the House Sparrow out in the cold. This has resulted in a population crash. Put a communal nest box (our Four Seasons) up on the side of the house or garage near the eaves to help bring these lovely little birds back. Our Claridges and Peninsula communal nest boxes are designed for the House Sparrow, but they will also attract various other species as well. We have had customers reporting up to five pairs of House Sparrows, but also had two pairs of Titmice or Finches. Even though these birds are territorial they nest opposite one another so never come into contact.

The rule of thumb about positioning is make sure it is at least two meters off of the ground. Any lower and they are at more risk of predation. The other main point is make sure it is faces North East or South East. This keeps the entrance out of the worst of the weather. Putting as much cover round the nest box as possible will also greatly increase the chances of it being used. Not too much though otherwise you won’t see it.

There is no need to put anything inside, the birds will bring in their own ‘furnishings’.

Follow these few simple rules, and there will be no reason for you to not being proud ‘grandparents’ for years to come.

A final note
Clean the nest box out in the autumn, pull out the old nest and give it a rinse inside with a mild disinfectant. Put it back in place though, as it will be used as a place to roost throughout the cold winter months. Blue Tits, Wrens etc will nest communally in the coldest months. You could have a dozen plus in there.

Type of Feeder
There are a mind boggling array of feeders, some good, some gimmicky, but any type of feeder means you are doing some good for your garden birds.

The ideal way to feed your garden birds, is to feed a wide variety of foods in a wide variety of feeders. Most birds are territorial, so if you feed only in one place the boldest birds (Finches, Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds etc), or the fastest (Blue Tits etc) will feed. There is also sure to be an array of birds in your garden that you may not know about because they are timid and will not visit the feeders. (Wrens, Nuthatches, Coal Tits, Goldcrest etc).

Bird Tables
Firstly, make sure your bird table is beautiful (The Ivy or Raffles), as it going to be a focal point of your garden and you will be looking at it a lot. The next thing is quality. Remember, you get what you pay for. Buy cheap and you will be replacing it often, as it WILL fall apart, costing you more in the long run than a better quality table. Buy a well designed, well constructed table, and you will buy once and have years of enjoyment.

Make sure the post is at least 1.2 meters high, this is high enough for the birds to feel secure. The base is very important. If you can secure it into the ground. If not the base must be big enough for it to handle strong winds. Chances are if it blows over it will break and be ruined. If it has a freestanding base, it must be on a flat base, if not the chances are it will go over.

A table will bring in a wide variety of species, if you put out a wide variety of food.
Bread will be a favourite
Apples will bring in the Blackbirds and Thrushes.
Mealworms will bring in everyone. It is like Christmas when mealworms are put out.
Mixed seed. This will bring in a variety of birds. Seed varies in quality, avoid mixed seed that has pieces of dog biscuit in it. This is used as a filler, and the only birds that will eat it are pigeons. Once one pigeon comes in many other will follow, and once in they are almost impossible to get rid of.
Peanuts. This is an excellent food, as it is very high in fat content. If it is in the seed mix, make sure they are not whole. This is dangerous in the breeding season, because if fed to chicks it will get stuck in their throat and suffocate them.

Keep the table clean, if food rots, it can poison the birds.

Hanging Feeders
Hanging feeders are much like the table, you get what you pay for. My thoughts are, the more feeders the better, and hanging feeders are a good way of spreading your feeders around the garden. Choose different styles for different foods. Peanuts, will be popular with the Woodpeckers and Titmice, Mixed seed with the Finches, and Nyger seed will be loved by the Goldfinches.

Hang them in different places and at different heights.

Sparrow & Finch Bird Feeders
We produce our feeders; Bluebird Cafe, Harry’s Bar and Wolseley, without perches for a reason. Ours give the smaller birds a chance without the large birds being able to take over. This also helps keep the rascally pigeons away!

Squirrels
There is nothing pleasing you can do about squirrels. Yes, you can cage the feeder, but this is not exactly attractive is it?

Squirrels are another good reason for spreading the feeders around. If a squirrel comes to your garden and uses a feeder, the birds will not be disturbed if there is somewhere else close by for them to feed. You may have to sacrifice a feeder for harmony in the garden. Remember, if you try to take on a squirrel, YOU WILL LOSE!